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Med. staff not recommending surgery for Beltre

Med. staff not recommending surgery for Beltre

9/28/12: Adrian Beltre drives a two-run home run down the left-field line to pull the Rangers within three runs in the eighth inning

By T.R. Sullivan
/
MLB.com |

ARLINGTON -- Third baseman Adrian Beltre is not planning to have surgery to deal with an abdominal issue that bothered him at the end of the season.

"Adrian is feeling well and not reporting any issues," assistant general manager Thad Levine said Thursday. "We have complete confidence in our medical staff, and they're not recommending surgery."

Beltre didn't miss time because of the problem, but he did start seven times at designated hitter in his last 19 games. He served as the DH over the final three games in Oakland before going back to third base for the American League Wild Card game against Baltimore. Beltre was also dealing with a strained left shoulder in additional to abdominal pain.

The abdominal pain is believed to be caused by scar tissue left from surgery in 2001 to repair a hernia.

Levine said there is no desire to perform another surgery if Beltre is feeling better, because the same complications could arise as before.

"Each time you have the surgery, you run the risk of creating more scar tissue," Levine said.

Beltre finished the season hitting .321 with 36 home runs and 102 RBIs. The plan for him now is to rest and then begin his normal offseason preparation to get ready for Spring Training.